Ishmael

These are the names of Ishmael's sons; their names according to family records are: Nebaioth, Ishmael's firstborn, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedmah. These were Ishmael's sons, and these are their names by their villages and encampments: 12 leaders of their clans. This is the length of Ishmael's life, 137 years. He took his last breath and died, and was gathered to his people. And they settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt as you go towards Aahur. He lived in opposition to all his brothers. Genesis 25:12-18

Ishmael was not God's chosen yet He still provided for him and prospered him, perhaps this was because of his father Abraham. Ishmael lived 137 years near Egypt. Ishmael's mother had been an Egyptian slave and so it is natural that when she and her son left Abraham and Sarah that she returned to her homeland.

Back in chapter 21 God told Hagar, Ishmael's mother, that He would prosper Ishmael and that he would father a great nation. However back in chapter 16 when Hagar was pregnant with Ishmael God told her that her son would live in opposition to his brothers and this is exactly what he did.

I am wondering if the 'brothers' included Isaac and the later brothers born from the concubines after Sarah's death. As he went out to establish his own dynasty he would have been the head of his clan and his 12 sons a part of that dynasty. The scripture tells us that the sons born to Abraham by his concubines were sent away east and Egypt would have been east.

Although we must wade through difficult to pronounce names I think it is important to acknowledge a man that God acknowledged and to understand that he was used by God to create a people group to populate Arabia. This is no small feat. Yet God was interested in these people.

As Christians we can, at times, be very narrow in our understanding or quest for understanding. Yet our God has a very big plan indeed and his love covers it all. We cannot isolate ourselves or our part in God's plan. We are part of a bigger picture.

Do you consider yourself insignificant? I am sure Isaac or Ishmael,  could have thought of themselves thus but God didn't. We must keep His perspective and this will govern our behaviour. What is God doing? What is His ultimate plan? We can trust Him. Amen!